Diseases of the Sex Organs. 169 



3 Internal Inflammation of the Yard. 



This occurs in the gelding as well as in tlie stallion : in the 

 latter, generally from too frequent service ; in the former, from 

 the use of cantharides, croton oil or turpentine, or from the 

 presence of foreign bodies in the urethra. 



The symptoms are, a frequent desire to urinate, the act 

 performed with difficulty ; frequent extension of the organ ; 

 and a discharge of a whitish or yellowish matter from the 

 urethra. 



The treatment is to foment the parts with hot water (the 

 hot sheep skin), to administer a moderately brisk purge, and 

 to give the animal freely of bi-carbonate of soda, an ounce in 

 water several times a day. These means failing, an ulcer in 

 the urethra may be suspected. The horse must then be cast, 

 the parts inside the urethra examined, and any ulcerated 

 surfaces touched with nitrate of silver, and injections of weak 

 sulphate of zinc solutions, one-half to one drachm to the pint 

 of water, to be made. 



4. Inflammation of the Vagina. 



This is a rare disease in the mare. When it occurs, it is 

 usually due to violence of the stallion when serving; to diffi- 

 cult labor; to the presence of cancers and ulcers; or to local 

 violence, as by inserting a stick or cob into the vagina, an 

 insensate piece of mischief not so rare as it ought to be. 



The inflammation shows itself by a swelling and tender- 

 ness of the parts, and by a discharge of a watery or j)urulent 

 matter. 



In the treatment the principal precaution to observe is not 

 to irritate further the parts by strong injections. Linseed tea 

 or slippery elm bark mucilage, made warm, and containing 

 a drachm of sugar of lead to the pint, are the best injections 

 which can be used in most cases. If the discharge is foul, 

 sulphate of zinc may be used instead of the lead. 



